Ms Lindy Hyam
Chief Executive of IDP Education Australia

Lindy Hyam was appointed Chief Executive of IDP Education Australia in January 2000. Established in 1969, IDP is a world leader in the international education and development services industry. With a global network of 500 staff and representatives located in 63 offices across 35 countries, the company provides worldwide access to Australia's education and development services.

Lindy's experience in change management, in both public and private sectors, has been pivotal in the major strategic realignment of the company since her appointment. Under her guidance, IDP achieved a 30% company growth in 2000, taking IDP for the first time into the top 500 private companies in Australia.

Other significant results achieved over the past year include:

Moving from being a predominantly product-focused company to one with a clear customer-driven focus
An increase of 26% in business generated by International Student Services and the highest number to date of students recruited by the company
A 35% increase in the development portfolio through contract expansion and new contracts
An increase of 36% in IDP's IELTS business.

Lindy's support of market and product development will see the company install the first comprehensive online student applications processing system in Australia this year and also undertake a significant expansion program in Europe and the UK, Japan, the Gulf States, southern African regions and Latin America.

Lindy is actively involved in a variety of associations, including:

The Australian Asia Future Relations Round Table
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Women Leaders' Network in Australia

She was also part of the Organising Committee for the Commonwealth People's Festival held conjunction with the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) meeting in Brisbane, October 2001.

Lindy is Chief Executive of IDP Education Australia Ltd. and IELTS Australia Ltd and is a Director for a number of subsidiary companies.

Between January 1997 and January 2000, Lindy was the Executive Director and Board Member of the Horticultural Research & Development Corporation (HRDC), the fastest growing sector of agriculture in Australia. Lindy has retained her involvement in the horticultural industry by sitting on the Board of the Horticulture and Food Crown Research Institute of New Zealand, the first non-New Zealand national to be appointed to the Board by the N.Z. Cabinet.

Originally a member of the teaching profession, Lindy's career has focussed on organisational and cultural change and the strategic delivery of professional customer service. She has held senior appointments in local and State Government, including the NSW Education, Police and Premier's Departments and Warringah Shire Council.

Her professional qualifications include a Bachelor of Education and an MBA (with Distinction) majoring in Public Sector Management. In 1996 Lindy was awarded the Zonta Prize for the "Most Outstanding Woman MBA Graduate of the Year". In 1999 and 1996, Lindy was a NSW finalist in the Telstra Business Women's Award. She is a Committee Member of the Zonta Club of Sydney, an international organisation which selects service projects in various countries to benefit the status of women around the world. Lindy has also recently been inducted into the Women Chiefs of Enterprises International, a non-profit professional organisation for women entrepreneurs, and was the featured CEO in the Australian Financial Review's June 2001 Boss Magazine.

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